French drain cost in Huntington, WV
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (60 linear ft)
- $590 – $2,050
- Per linear ft
- $9.75 – $34
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −2%
- US $1,350
- Rank of 300 metros
- #169
- 1 = most expensive
Huntington homeowners pay roughly $590 to $2,050 to install a French drain at 60 linear ft, or $9.75 to $34 per linear ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Huntington is almost level. Building materials run about 4% below the US average here (BEA goods price index 96.3).
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Estimated cost for 60 linear ft in Huntington, WV, standard level
$1,000 to $1,600
About $17 to $27 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 53% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $490 | $760 |
| Labor | $540 | $850 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $1,000 | $1,600 |
Cost breakdown for 60 linear ft in Huntington, WV
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $280 | $620 | $970 | 47% |
| Labor | $310 | $690 | $1,100 | 53% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $590 | $1,300 | $2,050 | 100% |
What is behind the Huntington number
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 3 trades: construction laborers at 50%, operating engineers and other construction equipment operators at 30%, pipelayers at 20%. Weighted together, Huntington wages are 0.99 times the national level. Labor makes up about 53% of the midpoint estimate (52% at national prices).
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Huntington metro is 96.3 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 60 linear ft comes to $620, compared with $650 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (88.4) and land at $0 to $0.
When to schedule French drain in Huntington
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Huntington Tri State Ap (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
March through November is the stretch where digging, grading and setting material in the ground runs into the fewest weather problems in Huntington (9 of 12 months). January, February and December have an average overnight low at or below freezing (32°F).
In January, February and December the average low is at or below freezing, which means frozen ground and slower digging, compaction and sod or stone placement. NOAA counts about 90 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Huntington gets about 45 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 20 inches of snow. The wettest months are May, June and July (5.1 inches in July). Inside the workable window, October and November are the driest, at 3.0 and 3.1 inches. The station averages about 25 days a year at 90°F or above.
Does the season change the price? Probably, but we do not have a sourced seasonal price curve, so the estimator shows a year-round figure and does not adjust by month. When you collect quotes, ask whether scheduling in a slower month gets a better rate.
| Month | Avg high °F | Avg low °F | Precip (in) | For this job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 43 | 26 | 3.1 | Cold |
| Feb | 47 | 29 | 3.4 | Cold |
| Mar | 57 | 36 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Apr | 69 | 46 | 3.9 | Workable |
| May | 76 | 54 | 4.5 | Workable |
| Jun | 83 | 62 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Jul | 86 | 66 | 5.1 | Workable |
| Aug | 86 | 65 | 4.0 | Workable |
| Sep | 80 | 58 | 3.2 | Workable |
| Oct | 69 | 46 | 3.0 | Workable |
| Nov | 57 | 37 | 3.1 | Workable |
| Dec | 47 | 30 | 3.6 | Cold |
Huntington against nearby metros and the rest of West Virginia
Of the five closest metros, 2 are cheaper than Huntington. Kingsport is the lowest at about $1,300 (midpoint, 60 linear ft), 120 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Huntington, WVthis page | $590 – $2,050 | $1,300 | |
| Charleston, WV60 miles | $580 – $2,000 | $1,300 | −1% |
| Lexington, KY100 miles | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | +2% |
| Columbus, OH110 miles | $680 – $2,400 | $1,550 | +17% |
| Cincinnati, OH115 miles | $650 – $2,250 | $1,450 | +11% |
| Kingsport, TN120 miles | $570 – $2,000 | $1,300 | −3% |
| West Virginia (statewide) | $550 – $1,950 | $1,250 | −6% |
| United States | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | +3% |
Across 300 US metros, Huntington comes in at #169 from the top. The priciest is San Francisco, CA at $1,900; the cheapest is McAllen, TX at $1,100 (midpoints, 60 linear ft). Statewide, Huntington is 6% above the West Virginia figure.
Other West Virginia metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston, WV | 103,450 jobs | $580 – $2,000 | $1,300 | −1% |
| Morgantown, WV | 67,370 jobs | $560 – $1,950 | $1,250 | −5% |
| Wheeling, WV | 58,130 jobs | $570 – $2,000 | $1,300 | −2% |
Cities with a workforce like Huntington's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Huntington against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vallejo, CA | 144,130 jobs | $760 – $2,650 | $1,700 | +29% |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | 139,260 jobs | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | +2% |
| Myrtle Beach, SC | 146,260 jobs | $530 – $1,850 | $1,200 | −9% |
| Rockford, IL | 137,650 jobs | $680 – $2,350 | $1,550 | +16% |
Specs and site conditions that change a Huntington bid
Crawl space drains
A crawl space French drain is $2,000-$8,000 installed.
Exterior versus interior
A shallow exterior French drain is $10-$35 per linear foot; an interior basement drain is $40-$85 per foot, or $4,000-$17,000 installed (HomeGuide).
Where the water goes
A sump pump adds $500-$1,800 and a dry well $50-$3,000+. Discharging to a storm drain can mean extra permit fees.
Related projects, priced for Huntington
Because every project leans on different trades, Huntington's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, sprinkler system runs −4% and sod installation −10%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $6,300 – $12,300 | −9% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,400 – $9,800 | −4% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,350 – $3,000 | −10% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,350 – $5,000 | −4% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $3,850 – $9,650 | −4% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $33,900 – $106,000 | −6% |
Local wages behind the labor line
Wages are the part of this estimate that changes most from town to town. 3 trades carry the job here, and each is compared with its US median. The weighted result for Huntington is 0.99 times the national level.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 50% of the weighting: a median of $21.72 an hour, 4% below the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $17.76 and $28.49 an hour. About 1,580 work in the metro. That is 112.3 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
For operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073, weighted 30%) the local median is $27.56 an hour, which is 4% below the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $22.17 and $37.01 an hour. BLS counts 1,040 of them working in the area, 73.9 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.7), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Pipelayers (47-2151), 20% of the weighting: a median of $25.91 an hour, 10% above the US median of $23.56. The middle half of them earn between $21.20 and $38.33 an hour. About 50 work in the metro. That is 3.6 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 2.1 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the construction laborers on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($28.49 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $100. At the 25th percentile ($17.76) it shrinks by about $60. The total moves by 8.0% or 4.7%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 140,740 jobs in the Huntington-Ashland area. That makes it the 159th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.09% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 50% | $17.76 | $21.72 | $28.49 | $22.66 | 0.96 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $22.17 | $27.56 | $37.01 | $28.78 | 0.96 | metro |
| Pipelayers (47-2151) | 20% | $21.20 | $25.91 | $38.33 | $23.56 | 1.10 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.99 | |||||
Cost by quality level and size in Huntington
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Huntington wages and prices. They overlap on purpose: a good standard job and a modest premium job can cost the same. The grid below prices the same bands at 3 common sizes.
Basic
$590 to $1,150
Shallow yard drain, easy digging
Standard
$1,000 to $1,600
Standard drain with fabric, gravel and a pop-up outlet
Premium
$1,450 to $2,050
Deep or long drain, hard soil, dry well or sump discharge
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| short run (30 linear ft) | $290 – $590 | $510 – $800 | $730 – $1,000 |
| side yard (60 linear ft) | $590 – $1,150 | $1,000 – $1,600 | $1,450 – $2,050 |
| long run (120 linear ft) | $1,150 – $2,350 | $2,050 – $3,200 | $2,950 – $4,100 |
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Detailed french drain report for Huntington, WV, $9
Multi-page report for Huntington, WV: low, typical and high cost, a line-item breakdown of materials and labor by trade, permit notes, the best months to schedule, a quote comparison sheet, red flags, questions for contractors, checklists and every source. Save your estimate above, preview page 1 free, and unlock the full report for $9 one-time, or get every report with CostLocal Pro.
French drain in Huntington: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a French drain in Huntington?
For 60 linear ft, expect $590 to $2,050 in the Huntington area. A standard-spec job lands at $1,000 to $1,600. Small jobs usually cost more per linear ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per linear ft for French drain in Huntington?
About $9.75 to $34 per linear ft for materials and labor, plus $0 to $0 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $10 to $35.
+Is French drain cheaper in Huntington or Charleston?
Charleston is 60 miles away. The midpoint for 60 linear ft there is $1,300, which is 1% less than Huntington ($1,300). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Huntington?
About 53% at the midpoint, or $690 out of $1,300. Materials are 47% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 52%.
+What would side yard (60 linear ft) cost in Huntington?
$590 to $2,050. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does French drain need a permit in Huntington?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $0 to $0 for fees in the Huntington area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Huntington expensive for French drain compared with the rest of West Virginia?
Huntington is 6% above the West Virginia statewide estimate ($1,250 at the midpoint). We cover 4 metros in West Virginia; see the state page to compare them.
+What do construction laborers earn in Huntington?
The BLS median is $21.72 an hour in the Huntington area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $17.76 to $28.49.
+What do basic and premium French drain work cost in Huntington?
For 60 linear ft, basic work runs $590 to $1,150 and premium work $1,450 to $2,050. Basic means: shallow yard drain, easy digging. Premium means: deep or long drain, hard soil, dry well or sump discharge.
+When is the best time to install a French drain in Huntington?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are March through November. October and November are typically the driest of those months. Local contractors' schedules matter as much as the weather, so book early for the busy months.
French drain near Huntington
Where these numbers come from
Base prices are national ranges from the sources below. We scale labor by local BLS wages, materials by BEA goods prices and permits by the BEA all-items price level. Full method on the methodology page.
- HomeGuide: How Much Does a French Drain Cost? (2026) (accessed November 4, 2026)
- Cost to Renovate: Renovation Labor Report 2026: Where the Money Goes (accessed November 4, 2026)
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025
- BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991-2020
Note on derived figures: Materials = 48% of the installed price, from Cost to Renovate's mid-range 'Outdoor Living' category split (44% labor, 48% materials). It is a category average, not a French-drain figure, so the materials line here is a rough one.